Summary
President Donald Trump's administration announced plans to furlough around 1,400 workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) because of the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. Almost 400 agency staff will stay on the job to manage the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. The shutdown is causing delays in the modernization of nuclear weapons.
Key Facts
- About 1,400 NNSA workers will be furloughed starting next week.
- Nearly 400 workers will remain at the NNSA to oversee the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
- The furloughs result from the government shutdown, which has lasted for 17 days.
- Senate Democrats recently blocked a Republican bill to extend federal funding, contributing to the shutdown.
- Federal employees marked as "essential" continue to work without pay until the shutdown ends.
- Roughly 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed, along with many federal contractors.
- The NNSA is essential for maintaining and testing nuclear weapons and securing nuclear materials globally.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the shutdown might slow nuclear weapons program modernization.
